DEDICATION.

A FRENCH writer has remarked, that the first step we take in the world frequently wins us its favour, or sets it against us. Of no one, probably, can this be more true than of a young author, and I consider myself peculiarly fortunate in being able, as my first step in literary life, thus to express my admiration of

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

The unfeigned humility of my hopes would have deterred me from soliciting for my work the eye of so great a master of every style of literary composition, had I not, from many instances, learned that his candour and tolerance are equal to his genius.

J. H. J.

WEST MOLESEY, SURREY,

February, 1829.